The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Palo Verde Natural Dye

Desert Flora and Natural Dye

A 5th grade STEM lesson

Jocelyn Smerz

Spring 2024

Notes for teachers

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• Students have learned about genetic offspring of plants.
• We used this learning to observe the desert wildflower blooms.
• Students created a wonder board and asked questions about desert plants and connected them to natural ways to use the blooms.
• This lead to research about how natural dyes are used and how we can create natural dyes to dye cotton fabric.
• This is best completed in the early spring in Arizona. Timing of blooms is different in all areas and can impact end of the school year.

List of Materials

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• Palo Verde blooms
• Mortar and pestle ( Rock and sheet pans)
• Boiling water ( Sun heated water is fine)
• Fabric samples (cotton, wool)
• Digital and print resources on natural dyes
• Multimedia presentation tools (e.g., tablets, computers)
• Beakers, containers, and strainers
• Sieve
• Large buckets
• STUDENTS WILL RESEARCH MATERIALS

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AZ Science Standards

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5.P1U1.2

Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate that some substances combine to form new substances with different properties and others can be mixed without taking on new properties.

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Science and Engineering Practices

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• ask questions and define problems
• develop and use models
• plan and carry out investigations
• analyze and interpret data
• use mathematical and computational thinking
• construct explanations and design solutions
• engage in argument from evidence
• obtain, evaluate and communicate information

Objectives:

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify Native American Tribes and Their Use of Natural Dyes Students will recognize that Native American tribes resided throughout North America before European colonization and describe how they used natural dyes from desert flora. Standard: SS05-S1C3-01
2. Extract Natural Dyes from Desert Flora Students will plan and carry out investigations to extract natural dyes from Palo Verde blooms and other desert flowers, noting the changes in properties. Standard: 5.P1U1.2
3. Utilize Multiple Sources for Information Students will draw on information from multiple print or digital sources to locate answers to questions about natural dyes efficiently. Standard: 5.RI.7
4. Understand Chemical Properties of Natural Dyes Students will demonstrate that some substances combine to form new substances with different properties and others do not. Standard: 5.P1U1.2

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Students will explore the history and processes of using natural dyes, focusing on desert flora. They will investigate how native people used these plants, specifically Palo Verde blooms, to create dyes. The lesson includes extracting natural dyes, understanding chemical properties, and analyzing different multimedia.

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Agenda

Lesson Activities

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Hook: Show a short video about the history of natural dyes and their use by Native American and/or colonists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VM4Yi5NtEY

https://www.si.edu/es/object/1-introduction-natural-dyes-project%3Ayt_maqmSknRRvc

1. Discussion: Briefly discuss the importance of natural dyes in history and their relevance today.

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Activity: History and Cultural Significance (20 minutes)

1. Reading: Students will read a short article about Native American tribes and their use of natural dyes :https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/ethnobotany/dyes.shtml#:~:text=Bloodroot%20(Sanguinaria%20canadensis)%20was%20used,may%20not%20have%20been%20used.
2. Discussion: Engage the class in a discussion on how Native Americans used local plants for dyes and the significance of these practices.

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Activity 2: Extracting Natural Dyes (40 minutes)

1. Demonstration: Show students how to extract dyes from Palo Verde blooms using boiling water and a mortar and pestle.
2. Hands-On: Students will work in groups to extract dyes from various desert flowers, documenting the process and results.
3. Experiment: Students will dye fabric samples with the extracted dyes and observe any changes in properties.

This will all be done using the Natural Dye Worksheet

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Activity 3: Research and Information Gathering (20 minutes)

1. Research: Students will use digital and print resources to find additional information on natural dyes and desert flora.
2. Presentation: Each group will present their findings, focusing on how they located information efficiently.

This will all be done using the Natural Dye Worksheet

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

This can be a 1:1 so that every student gets a chance to design an experiment and have a fabric sample at the end.

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This can also be done in a small group of 3-4 which is how we did it in class and the system worked but a collaboration rubric should be used for keeping accountability

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Step by step instructions

1. Have students forge for Palo Verde Blooms( due to the blooming cycle this needs to be done in the spring)
2. Using buckets of water soak the blooms and have them completely covered in water
3. The water does need to be hot so either have hot water to start or if the weather is hot use direct sun to heat up the blooms.
4. Most groups soaked overnight for better saturation.
5. Strain the water into a clean container.
6. Use a natural fabric that is wet first.
7. Soak the natural fiber in the solution.
8. Wait overnight to test the color saturation of the fabric.
9. Make any modifications and test again.

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Assessment

Students were able to choose how they wanted to be evaluated.

There was a peer check in form that students used with each other to ask follow up questions about the final project.

I used this document for teacher assessed collaboration and behavior for report card standards.

Differentiation

This project is student lead so grouping and establishing mentor pairing is helpful.

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Check in with students as they work to see if any groups are struggling.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can try this method of inquiry with other desert flora. *There is evidence that Native Americans in the region use Cholla blooms to create dyes.

Students could forge for other substances in the region.

There are a few Social media accounts we discovered that use garden plants as natural dyes.

Students can research other regions and how to use native plants in creating fabric.

ART PROJECT using the dyed materials.